Adventures in family life, my vintage and thrift shop treasure hunt, sewing, creating, and living an intentional life of simplicity and joy.

Posts categorized "In "Other" Words"

August 02, 2011

We all have days of contemplation; days when we ponder "life" in terms of who we are, where we've been, and where we're going. I used to think that "Everyone Else" had all of that figured out. I mean, don't you sometimes just assume that "Everyone Else" has a life that is free from anxiety, stress, and struggle? Especially when we all look so good out in public. Even our online presence can portray only that part of our lives that we are comfortable sharing with others. It is difficult to express the loss, the sadness, the brokenness in our hearts. But when we do, we discover that God uses our pain to touch other hearts and lives . . . . because, really, we all have a broken heart. So when I read the blog post that inspired the quote this week, I was touched by the honesty of this mom and her willingness to be vulnerable by sharing her pain for all the world to see.

Although I personally have never experienced the loss of a child through death, and I cannot imagine how one would ever survive that kind of pain, there are other kinds of heartbreak that are also hard to imagine. And sometimes, it is difficult to put your heart right out there in the open, before God and everyone, and risk being criticized. Even now, as I am writing this, I wonder: "Could I really say what is in my heart? Could I really be this honest? Or would I make someone uncomfortable with my truth?" Then I realize that this is just a blog ;o) and if anyone should happen to pass by, and not like my words and my story, then I suppose they could just move along and read something else. But the vulnerability is still scary! And the honesty could be more than some people would want to hear.

But truth is a great healer of broken hearts, along with time and patience. It helps when God brings another Broken Heart to come along side of you, but speaking the truth has a way of taking the first step on a journey to healing. As angry as it might make us, when we are right in the midst of the torrent of tears and the devastation of our disappointments, it is true that this heartbreak is God's gift. I know this because I have experienced His grace to face my own loss and grief, and without that "gift" of brokenness, we cannot move to a place of healing.

Why does it have to be that way? I have no idea, but I am old enough to know that everyone experiences heart break, and we all get to choose what to do with it. There have been days when it seemed as if I was holding a tangible "thing" in my hands; my pain was so overwhelming that I wanted to take that "thing" and fling it against a wall and smash it all to pieces. It was so heavy that I had trouble breathing, or walking, or even taking one more step. We all have to choose what we are going to do with that "thing" that is suffocating us in grief. We can choose to carry it around for the rest of our lives and allow it to devour us, destroy us, and eventually become the "thing" that dominates every thought, every word, every action in our life. Or we can recognize it for what it is, accept the truth of how and why this "thing" came to be such a huge part of life, and choose to allow that pain to bring us face to face with the grace of our God - and let him heal our broken heart.

I've known people who have made different choices in how they handle the big, ugly "thing" in their lives called a broken heart. My own mother was one who chose to be angry with the world because it had inflicted so much pain on her heart. She lived her final years in a constant state of agitation, frustration, anxiety, and negativity. She was miserable, and she made everyone around her miserable, too. Eventually I just had to accept the fact that this was my mother, and I would never be able to have the kind of relationship with her that I had hoped for, and prayed for, my entire life. I loved my mother, but I did not really know her because she would never let anyone get close enough to her to discover what she had hidden behind all of that anger.

But God brought another woman into my life who showed me that we do not need to allow those "things" in our life to defeat and destroy us. My dear friend Fern was 70 years old when I met her, playing honky-tonk piano in a little country cafe. She could not read music, so as she played the old piano over in the corner, she was always making eye contact and smiling at everyone who had stopped by for a hamburger or a cup of coffee. One day she told me about her three-year-old son who had died - 50 years ago. Her heart was still broken, and she remembered every little detail of his too-short life. When Fern passed away at the age of 86, she had touched the hearts and lives of so many people because she allowed God to mend her broken heart . . . . perhaps that is a better way of thinking about broken hearts; perhaps they never truly "heal," but I know that God in His gracious lovingkindness can "mend" any heart that has been torn apart by loss and disappointment.

That is His gift to us. We are not promised that life will be easy or comfortable, but we can choose to accept the comfort of God's love and allow Him to "mend" our brokenness so that we, then, in turn can speak words of hope, encouragement, and comfort to others. But it's our choice what we are going to do with that ugly "thing" called pain that comes to each and every one of us at sometime along our journey of life. In place of the pain, we can welcome into our hearts the More that He is to help us regain our strength and carry on with life. Although your heart is breaking right now, won't you choose to allow God to bring you beauty for ashes? He wants to hold you and carry you, even now, this minute, if you are struggling to take that next step.

If you would like to participate in this week's "In Other Words" meme, please visit Loni on her blog, Writing Canvas, and post a link to your post on this quote. You can also find links to the other participants' blog and stop by to read their thoughts.

July 12, 2011

“Yes, I understand that turning back or waiting for othersslows you down, but only at first.The deliberate extension of goodness, generosity, and wisdom always wins out in the end.”

~~ Lisa Bevere, “Lioness Arising: Wake Up and Change Your World”

When I was a little girl, riding my bike was one of the endless activities that filled my summer days. We lived by a lake, and our road was a dead-end, so most of the cars that drove by our house were either people who lived there or perhaps strangers who were lost. In any event, hardly anyone ever drove down that road fast . . . because there was a huge tree at the end of the road and you had to drive around that tree to turn around and go right back out the way you came in.

The other really great thing about "Our Road" was that there was a little hill just beyond our house (it seemed quite enormous to me at the time!) We would race down that hill to the bottom, and come screaming to a stop just before we would crash into an enormous Weeping Willow tree at the edge of a swampy area. Now THAT was a great way to spend a summer afternoon!

One day I was racing my bike with my BFF, and as we came zooming down that hill with the summer breeze whipping our hair into our eyes, we were laughing and yelling at one another to "Go faster! Go faster!." Suddenly I looked over and saw that she was RIGHT THERE and we slammed into each other. Of course, that knocked us both off of our bikes, right there in the middle of "Our Road," and there was blood everywhere. We both had skinned up our knees and our hands, knocked heads somewhere along the way, and we probably both had a fat lip. Fortunately, nothing was broken except our momentary dreams of being world-class bike racers, but it did put us out of commission for a few days. Not long, though!

Soon we were both back to the business of all the adventures that little girls would have on a summer day, playing in the woods, spying on the other neighborhood kids through the branches of that Weeping Willow tree, and racing our bikes down the hill again right there on "Our Road." That's the way life usually presents itself to us, both as children and as adults. One minute we are flying down the road of Life with our hair flying in the breeze, laughing as we go. And then, suddenly, we are confronted with "The Hill" of adversity, and frequently we crash and burn before we get back up and travel on.

So what happens when we have to "slow down" for someone else along the way? Sometimes my girls go for a bike ride here on "Our Road" by our house that is also near a lake with a woods in our backyard. But one of our girls can't go as fast as the other, because she has Cerebral Palsy. It is easy for her sister to get exasperated when they can't zoom down the road as fast as she would like . . . . so here's what we do: "How about you go as fast as you can until you get to the sign at the curve, and then come zooming back to catch up with your sister?" That way we all get to go for a bike ride, together, while one gets to experience the thrill of the wind-whipped hair in the eyes and mouth, while the other one gets the opportunity to learn how to make the bike pedals go around and not tip over, all at the same time!

Yes, it can slow us down when we have to wait for someone we love to catch up. But what's really important here? Convenience or compassion? The thrill of the speed or the joy of the relationship? In other areas of life, the question is the same: Do we value the relationship with our loved ones, or do we just want them to "hurry up" and do it our way? I think about how often God patiently waits for me to "get it," to understand, and to figure out that His way is always the only way on my life journey.

Do not be discouraged if you are waiting for a loved one - sometimes those moments of slowing down, taking a deep breath, and saying a little prayer is the task that is before you TODAY. No, you may not be setting the world on fire with the newest, greatest, and most incredible discovery, but you are giving a gift that is truly a treasure to those whom God has put in your pathway along the journey of Life, wherever you live on "Your Road."

If you would like to participate this week with "In Other Words," please leave a link here to your post on this quote so we can come visit you. We would love to read your thoughts on this topic! Also, you can find more information at Loni's blog, Writing Canvas, and join us in future weeks for "In Other Words."

June 21, 2011

“The rush and pressure of modern life are a form,perhaps the most common form,of its innate violence.To allow oneself to be carried awayby a multitude of conflicting concerns,to surrender to too many projects,to want to help everyone in everything is to succumb to violence . . .”

~Thomas Merton

Perhaps it is only as we get older and are faced with the necessity of slowing down occasionally that we truly, finally understand this concept. Or perhaps it is just that certain personalities comprehend this truth all along, and others seem to be forever searching for that next "adrenaline rush" of activity, excitement, and adventure. Whatever the reason, it is such a common place in which we find ourselves: too busy, too stressed, too anxious, and far too weighed down with all of the responsibilities in our lives.

Of course, many of those responsibilities cannot be avoided, and should not be avoided. We can't just ignore our children for the sake of some peace and tranquility on a mountaintop somewhere. We can't simply pretend that the bills don't exist while we meditate in a quiet corner. We can't remove all of the noise and activity that is part of modern life . . . . but we can find ways to seek a place of rest and solitude in the midst of our responsibilities. And the other thing that I have discovered over the years is that I can also say "no" to some of the requests for my time and attention.

For many years it seemed that if I didn't "do" the task at hand, whether in our home, our church, or our community, then it was just not going to happen. Because of that incorrect assumption on my part, I would frequently take on way too many responsibilities! Because I was capable of running the parent group at school, and the summer reading program at the local library, and the arts committee in Our Town, I assumed that meant that I was supposed to do it . . . . all. So I tried. And, of course, eventually I failed, because I was so overwhelmed with all of the responsibilities of trying to do everything that everyone expected of me.

Eventually I realized that I am just not that important in the Big Picture! If it is in God's plan for something to happen, then it is going to happen, whether I am the one doing it or not. That was a difficult lesson to learn, and I frequently still feel the tug on my heart to do more than I should. That is why the truth of this quote is so significant - because there is an inherent, innate "violence" that we allow into our lives when we strive so desperately to do it all.

This is so difficult to accept when we are young, enthusiastic, and energetic, and we truly believe that we CAN do it all. At that time in our lives it never occurs to us that we will not always have that same level of youth, enthusiasm, or energy, and we will eventually have to allow others the privilege of taking on some of the responsibilities that we so sincerely believed we alone could handle. When you throw into the mix of life responsibilities, all that it takes to raise children and care for all the needs of a family, it is so easy to become burdened down with it all until the "violence" that invades our soul turns to resentment and exhaustion.

God's Word emphasizes the importance of resting in Him and trusting His plans: "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, . . . . refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret - it leads only to evil." Psalm 37:7-8 Perhaps it is just part of our modern-day culture that we, as women, have been convinced that we are responsible to "fix" everything and everyone in our lives. That is a dangerous belief upon which to build our lives. Partly it is dangerous because it will eventually destroy us, but it is also dangerous because it is God alone who is in the business of "fixing" broken hearts, homes, and lives.

As we truly strive to be the "virtuous women" that we believe God expects of us, we forget what is really required of us, first and foremost. Instead of the striving, the frantic activity, and the frustration and exhaustion of over-commitment, God requires our hearts. The rest will fall into place, without the "violence" in our souls of "a multitude of conflicting concerns," if we obey that one seemingly simple requirement.

"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings." Hosea 6:6 We will always have willing hearts to do what God asks us to do . . . . but how long will it take for us to remember that it is not our job to do it ALL, and before we do ANY of the responsibilities that are before us, we must seek His face in the quietness of our souls. In that moment, we will be carried away by His Grace.

The giggling children will just have to go play somewhere else for a few minutes! Crying babies make it difficult, I know, but somehow we have to find the time, the quiet, and the peaceful place where we can BE all that God intends for us to be, and then we will have His grace and strength to DO the rest.

Have a great Tuesday and try to find a way to slow down and even say "no" once in a while! If you would like to participate in this week's "In Other Words" meme, please visit Emily at Imperfect Prose and leave a link to your blog post. You can also find links to the other participants so you can take a minute and visit them!

June 07, 2011

If we can trust God for our eternal salvation,how can we not trust Him to provide for the“little” things of life?”~M.E.Howard

The "little" things in life . . . . that probably includes all those things that I think about, worry about, and stress about like my kids, the house payment, the dwindling bank account, the price of gas, and how in the world we will ever pay for all the dental work the girls have had this past month. I think those would be considered the "little" things of life, at least in contrast to the eternal significance of salvation, grace, and forgiveness. This makes so much sense! And what is even more startling in the reality of my everyday life, is that God has always been faithful to provide for every "little" thing in the past, as well as the "big," eternal areas of my life, so why do I wonder if He will pull through for our family today? Really, I'm relatively intelligent, so why do I do this? Why do I worry, when I can look back over the years and see, so clearly, God's hand in every situation that we simply had no clue how it was going to work out?

Sometimes we confuse "trust" with "laziness" . . . . sometimes we confuse the notion of trying to "earn" God's love and grace with good, old-fashioned hard work. No, our relationship with God is NOT based on our "works of righteousness," because we simply don't have any works that resemble "righteousness," at least in eternal terms. And perhaps growing up in a community and a family that stressed hard work, self-reliance, determination, and "grit" has given me a sense of my responsibility in the big picture of life. I think it is clear in Scripture that God expects us to use the gifts He has given us to do the work He has put before us - and then TRUST Him with the results.

Finding that balance can be tricky, especially for those of us who have been taught to "work before you play," and do our part in God's plan. I know I frequently think that my requests are just so insignificant compared to the struggles that others are having, that perhaps I should not "bother" God with my little concerns. If I am not doing my part, then how can I expect God to honor my prayers? However - I also realize that I need to get over it! This "little" reminder is a helpful and encouraging word today, as I seek to discover ways to "work" at the tasks that God has put before me today, without carrying the burdens of stress, anxiety, and worry that usually tag along like a dust cloud swirling around me as I trudge through my daily responsibilities.

Today, I choose to remember that God has given me "work" to do, but that the results are not my responsibility. Today, I choose to remember that He has always been faithful, not only in the eternal salvation of my soul and the resultant changes in my heart and life, but that He has always been faithful in the "little" things. The house payment has been made for the month, the car payment was sent out yesterday, all the other bills have been paid (on time!), and we have food in the cupboards and gas in the car. What else could this mama need?

If you would like to share your thoughts on this quote and participate in this week's "In Other Words," please visit Urailak on her blog, "Living for God," and leave a link to your post so we can stop by and visit you. Then, you can find links to all the other participants and visit them, too!

May 31, 2011

Faithfulness . . . . do I really comprehend the depth of meaning in that one word? Am I faithful to those in my life, the people to whom I have pledged my unfailing love and commitment? What does it mean for me to be faithful, and how important is it, in light of God's promise of faithfulness to me? As I read these words, I thought about the words of the Lord's Prayer that we frequently recite (and frequently don't even think about the significance of the words): "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." It seems to say that God will forgive us in the same measure with which we forgive those who have sinned against us. And in this verse, the Psalmist seems to be saying that God is faithful - but that He requires faithfulness on our part to receive the fullest measure of His gift in our lives. Since faithfulness in my human relationships has been such a significant part of my life, I have very definite opinions about the topic!

Faithfulness - God is faithful to those of us who are faithful. I always have been inquisitive, and so I think about "faithfulness," and ask myself: "What would that look like in my everyday life?" Since every one of us has failed in this area at one time or another (or many!), what does it mean in this life for us to be faithful? The obvious answer is simple - am I faithful in my marriage, in my family, in my relationships with my friends - but what does it REALLY LOOK LIKE to be faithful? Sometimes we see our lives in "snapshots" - a moment in time when we perceive ourselves either to have failed or succeeded in a specific situation. But I think God's concept of "faithfulness" goes so far beyond those moments of time.

Recently our family has been blessed with the opportunity to reconnect with some people in our lives that we have not been close to for several years. It happens in every family. Unfortunately in some of these situations, it happens as a result of tragedy. My sister-in-law (in her late 40s) had a massive stroke, and the next week my brother was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Our lives had been busy (as we all are) with the regular, everyday demands of paying bills, taking care of kids, jobs, and doing laundry, so we just had not taken the time to stay in regular contact. There was nothing negative that had happened, it was just that geographical distance made it difficult to connect in person, and the "busyness" of life just took over. Fortunately, my sister-in-law is recovering and making great progress with her therapy, and my brother had surgery and has been declared cancer free, at least for now. But the other positive outcome of all of this has been that we have reconnected. We are going to visit them soon and celebrate birthdays and family.

But what does faithfulness have to do with all of that? Well, that is just one small example of how we can be faithful to those we love - even when we don't have the opportunity, for whatever reason, to reach out and touch our loved ones with our words, we can hold them close in our hearts and pray that God will give us another chance. Another opportunity in this life to tell them how much we love them. Sometimes family relationships are "broken" for a while. Or more precisely, they sometimes are "cracked" and not completely "broken." Sometimes we choose to walk away and never look back. Sometimes that is what we need to do, if the relationship is destructive. But sometimes relationships are "cracked" as a result of misunderstandings, confusion, and half-truths. Those are the times when we REALLY need to be faithful!

God expects us to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and "be faithful" to who we are in a "cracked" relationship. No matter what the results of our faithfulness; even if our acts of lovingkindness are rejected, God requires our faithfulness. And then, even if it takes years and years of prayer, and even if we don't see the results of our faithfulness for a very long time, eventually God will honor that faithfulness. So, I think about how we frequently read a verse such as this one, and what we hear is "To the faithful (right this minute!), You show Yourself faithful (right now!)" But that is just not the way it usually works out.

Waiting to see God's faithfulness as He repairs "cracked" or "broken" relationships is not easy. I pray that we don't wait for a tragedy to restore and repair that which has been damaged. The "glue" of God's love and forgiveness can heal hearts so completely that all of those shattered pieces fit back together perfectly!

If you would like to participate in this week's "In Other Words," please visit Tami at her blog, "The Next Step," where you can post a link to your blog post on this verse and find links to the other participants. Have a great week and never be afraid to be faithful, even if it isn't always easy ;o) Nina

April 18, 2011

“Grace is Christianity’s best gift to the world, a spiritual nova in our midst exerting a force stronger than vengeance, stronger than racism, stronger than hate. Sadly, to a world desperate for this grace the church sometimes presents one more form of ungrace.”

by Philip YanceyWhat’s So Amazing About Grace?

When she first looked at me, her eyes were filled with exhaustion. There was a hint of anger; hardness born of grief and disappointment. A pretty girl, I thought, staring at me as if she was just waiting for me to say something that she could disagree with. The "tough girl" stance, clearly. I understood that posturing, that defensive technique that spoke loud and clear before she ever said a word. So when I touched her lightly on the shoulder later that day, and just whispered to her, "Good work on your test!", she seemed unprepared for words of kindness. Such a simple thing, grace, and yet incredibly powerful and profound. It changes lives!

Sadly, it is true that the Church frequently misses opportunities to be that "spiritual nova" that can exert such a powerful force in our universe - but let us not dwell on our failures at the minute. There are many, which we would all admit, but today it just seems appropriate to recall those fleeting moments of grace that we have embraced, and those that we have gifted to those around us. I am truly sorry for those times when I have allowed a potential "spiritual nova" of grace to escape into eternity without so much as a whimper. But I am also grateful for other opportunities to grasp that gift and pass it on, today or tomorrow, and every day for the rest of my life.

We have all failed; we all have stories of grief, abandonment, brokenness, and pain. I have learned from my family, my friends, my students that we can, indeed, carry on. But "carrying on" is always a much easier journey when there is someone who comes along side and brings the gift of grace. Gentle words of acceptance, a smile that acknowledges the treasure of their presence, or just a simple touch on the shoulder of one who is silently weeping . . . . . those little gestures of grace truly are more powerful than vengeance, racism, or hatred.

She told me her story eventually, and now God has blessed my life with a treasured new friend. The gift of grace changes lives - it will change yours, too, if you aren't afraid to open your heart when grace appears.

If you would like to join the other "In Other Words" participants this week, please visit Patricia at Typing One-Handed where you will find the links to the other posts, and leave your link, too, so we can come by and visit you! Have a great Tuesday! Hugs, Nina

April 04, 2011

“The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;may the name of the LORD be praised.”In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing."

~ Job 1:21b-22 ~

When you think about all that Job lost, it is absolutely amazing that he was able to keep on going. There was a reason that God allowed Job to be tested, and it wasn't because he was "perfect." Sometimes we read about the trials and afflictions of Job, and even though we hear him questioning God, it seems as if Job must have had some kind of super-human strength to go through all of the tragedy that he experienced and it didn't destroy him. And then we wonder why we are having trouble holding on to hope in the midst of our own trials.

When confronted with the horror of his losses, Job was broken. He was devastated, and he was confused. When we face our own tragedies and heartaches, it is not a sin to be broken. The difference between Job and many of those around him was that he eventually understood that it is not God's "fault" when difficult things come into our lives. Job did not "charge God with wrongdoing." But he wept. And he questioned. He was honest with God in his pain. But then God reminded Job that His ways are beyond our human comprehension, but the one thing that we can be assured of is that He does all things from his heart of Love. God cannot deny His own character, and even when we are surrounded by devastation, we need to remember Who He is. God has not promised that we won't go through the deep waters, but that He will be there to carry us through.

﻿One of the most difficult of all concepts for people to grasp about the person and nature of God is why He allows evil. Historically the notion has been that, because it is obvious that there is evil in the world, that either God doesn't care about our suffering, or that He is not capable of preventing it. But when we realize that much of our suffering and heartache is a result of some of our own choices, and the choices of others, because God has given us all the freedom to make those choices, we begin to realize that we just can't go around blaming God for everything that happens in the world.

﻿Even natural disasters happen as a result of the brokenness of this fallen world. Man and woman's choice to disobey God brought sin into the world, and we have been living with the consequences ever since. Bad things happen because we live in a sinful world, and we are sinful people. We are frequently the victims of the hurtful choices of other people, but still we cannot "blame" God for He is just as heartbroken as we are. As harsh as it might sound, our pain really isn't even the point. Because we all will experience pain and heartache in this earthly life, the reality we need to cling to is that even in the midst of that pain and heartache, He will carry us through.

﻿When you are in the moment of crisis; when you are broken beyond belief and feel as if the sun will never shine for you again; when you have lost everything that you have held so dearly to your heart . . . . . it is not a sin to cry out to God in confusion, anger, desperation, or terror. He knows your heart already. But the choice of what you do that next moment is your choice. Blaming God will never heal your heart. Let Him embrace you in His eternal love and hold you close 'til the storm passes by. Yes, you may walk the rest of your life with a limp because your wounds will always touch you, but if you trust Him to hold you and guide you through those dark valleys, He will keep His promises and never leave you nor forsake you.

﻿If you would like to participate in this week's In Other Words meme, please visit Miriam Pauline at her blog, Mipa's Monologue. You will be able to find links to the blogs of the other participants, and you can also leave your link there if you decide to write on this quote. I hope you do, so we can come by your blog and visit you!

March 29, 2011

I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer.You are yourself the answer.Before your face questions die away.What other answer would suffice?

~ C.S. Lewis ~

Such a profound yet simple observation . . . . we question, we wonder, we worry, we sometimes even collapse under the weight of our pain, and we cannot understand WHY we are experiencing the darkness and silence of our pain. Ultimately, there are many questions that will never be answered, but there is one truth that we can hold with certainty: He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is there, He is enough, and He cares about our heartache.

In the midst of my days of seemingless endless sorrow and shattered dreams, all of these questions, and more, were relentlessly screaming through my brain. Why, after praying for so many years and trying to do everything that it seemed God wanted me to do, it all still fell apart. I still don't know why, exactly, although I know there are times when, no matter how hard you try, no matter how much you pray, no matter how much you desperately want it all to be right, the conclusion of a matter is not about "me" as much as it is about the other people playing out the drama of my life.

﻿And if those other people do not want it to be right, God allows us all to make our own choices and live with the consequences of those choices. But the pain is no less for knowing that. It is in those moments, when nothing makes sense, there are no answers for the chaos and tragedy that is swirling all around us, that we must hold on to this truth: "I will never leave you nor forsake you." He is there, and even though He does not remove all of our pain and struggles, He is always there to carry us through the darkness. He is enough. That is the answer when it appears there are no answers, humanly speaking. He, alone, is the answer to every question that ever can be asked, and truly in His presence all questions will disappear.

﻿Hold on, no matter what is going on around you today. Sometimes that is all we can do is hold on, to Him, knowing that He hears, He cares, and He WILL uphold you in the midst of the raging floods of grief that we all must go through in our earthly lives. He is enough.

﻿

If you would like to participate in this week's In Other Words meme, please visit Jennifer at Scraps & Snippets where you will find links to the other participants' blogs and if you choose to write your thoughts on this quote, you can post your link there, too! Have a great Tuesday, walking in the light of His love! ~~ Nina

Sometimes when I participate in this weekly "In Other Words" meme, it feels suspiciously like someone was reading my mind. Even though I know in my head / brain / mind that God IS in control, that He DOES have a plan, that He WILL make a way through the maze that is before me, I tend to forget all of this when things look confusing. While I am over here working, doing everything that God has brought into my life, and believing that this is His work that I am doing - I STILL keep asking, "Are you sure? If this is REALLY the right way, why are there still obstacles in my path?" Why do I think that just because I am committed to living a life of obedience, that honors God, that somehow MY path will be smooth and easy to walk? If I know anything about history, it should be clear to me that there have been many who have gone before me, diligently seeking to do His will, who suffered great difficulties for that decision.

Do I REALLY believe in the sovereignty of God? I mean, enough to just let go of all the worry, fear, anxiety, and panic at the thought of tomorrow? Just recently I had one of those days when I was questioning myself again - I don't think I really question God, but then perhaps I do and I'm just too much of a coward to admit it - but I was wondering if I should be working on something different than what I am currently doing. Should I go back to teaching? Maybe; I got a call from a local community college last week inquiring about my availability to teach a class this summer. Should I stop trying to build a ministry that seems to be reaching more and more women every day . . . . and go get a "real job" that will pay a regular paycheck and maybe even provide health insurance? Perhaps; I am sending out my resume every week, just in case. Just a clue, please, just a clue, that's all I'm asking.

But then I am confronted with the quote for this week: even when I can't see the pathway in front of me (or in my case, I usually see the pathways all too clearly, and there are so many that I get confused, give up, and just go take a nap?), even when I am totally clueless, "God is plotting for my glory." I love that! He is "plotting;" He is intentionally planning and setting a course to bring me to the place where HE wants me to be. And how do I know that? Because when I am suddenly jerked into the reality that is right in front of my face, I discover that I have, indeed, been "blind" as He has revealed His grace and His plan.

"You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light . . . as for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. he is a shield for all who take refuge in Him." Psalm 18:28-30

Now, with my eyes newly opened to this truth, I see all around me the evidence of His leading and blessing the work that I am doing. I see that, even though we are not wealthy, we still have a home, and a car to get us to the grocery store where we can buy a few groceries every week to feed our daughters, who have had a winter coat, boots, hats, and mittens all winter. I see that, so far this month, all the bills are paid, almost all on time, and we have even been able to take the girls out for a hamburger a couple of times this month.

God has brought some surprising gifts into our lives recently, rebuilding relationships and friendships, providing employment during the recent economic struggle that so many of us have been through, and providing a church family that has been so loving to our family. In addition, my eyes have been opened to the treasure that I have found in those who are helping me build the Ruby for Women ministry. My assistant editor, Amanda, seems to be able to read my mind and takes care of details before I even have a chance to say anything to her.

I am blessed by the work of Katie who just quietly takes care of all of the graphics projects at Ruby for Women; I am totally amazed at the generosity of Sheila as she has invested hours and hours into trying to help us figure out how to get the Ruby for Women magazine into print; Jackie and Lynda have just taken care of so many of the day-to-day website responsibilities; Beth and Lynn continue to write and cheer us on; and all our other writers and contributors just keep sharing their gifts with the Ruby for Women community.

Today I refuse to be blinded by my own fears and anxiety; I choose to remember and believe that God is, truly, plotting for our glory. Today I will focus on all of the gifts, and I will refuse to let the uncertainty keep me from treasuring the blessings that God has brought to me, and that are right here in front of my face! Thank you to all of you who have responded to God's call to help build the ministry of Ruby for Women. I love you all!

"Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice." Psalm 18:4,5

~~ Nina

If you would like to participate in this week's "In Other Words" meme, please visit Loni at Writing Canvas. You will be able to find the other participants, and if you want to write on this quote, please leave a link back to your blog so we can stop by and visit you!

March 01, 2011

“If you don’t change the direction you are going,then you are likely to end up where you are headed.”

~ ~John Maxwell ~

I am directionally challenged. That is just something that has been a nuisance to me all of my life. There are a lot of things that I AM good at, but knowing where I am at is not one of them. Mostly it seems that I am rather oblivious to where I am going because I am so focused on the people and the events that are going on around me, or perhaps it is because I have always had a tendency to "live in my head." I guess that's what you do when you have an over-abundance of ideas in your brain . . . they kind of trap you in your head and the stuff going on around you sometimes just fades into the background. Well, unless it is kids under your feet giggling and rolling around on the floor. That usually gets my attention. There have been many times in my life when I had to pull myself out of my thoughts and look around - and it has not been uncommon to discover that I was headed somewhere that I really did not want to go!

Even though I understand significant geographic directions such as north, south, east, and west, that information doesn't always come into play when I'm thinking about other stuff. One day, when we still lived in Michigan, I needed to get on the expressway headed east. So, I was driving along, just having a great time listening to some beautiful music and rejoicing in the spring sunshine, when I noticed a sign that indicated I was headed towards Lake Michigan. Hmmmmm . . . . how long had I been driving west when I thought I was headed east? Oh, well, no matter, I just turned around and eventually made it to my destination. At least no one was in the car with me to realize just how easily I get turned around!

Then there was the time when I was in one of the really big stores in the midwest, Meijers, and I was wandering around buying groceries, probably looking at other stuff like baby clothes, or shoes, or towels, or something. After a while I realized it was time to head home, and as I looked around me, I couldn't figure out which way I needed to go to get out of the store. Really, it is a very BIG store, and I didn't want to walk all the way to one end of the store only to figure out that the doors were on the OTHER end of the store. I am not making this up. Eventually, I found my way back to the produce department and right there by the carrots and celery, I asked a young man who was stocking the cucumers, "Excuse me, but can you tell me which direction I need to go to find the front of the store?" He smiled kindly and pointed me in the right direction. Escaped again!

But the worst ever is going into a mall . . . . and the parking lot, well, I might just as well be on a deserted Pacific island. I avoid malls whenever possible, partly because I do not like to get lost, but I'm not great with crowds, and I'm really bad about spending money that I don't have to buy one more "thing" that I really don't need and eventually will have to either wash it, feed it, paint it, or babysit it. But the few times that I have ventured into a mall, especially when my older children were teens, I was completely distraught because just about every time we would walk out of a store, I'd just wander off in the direction that seemed right to me, and one of my kids would say, "Mom, that's the direction we just came from." Oh, sorry, I guess I had something else on my mind. "Here, this way, Mom . . . " I wonder what it's going to be like when I'm old and senile - at least then I'll have an excuse for being so confused about where I am going!

When I think about the direction I am going in life, however, I am getting better at having some sense of what will get me where I feel God is leading me. We all need to re-evaluate our direction occasionally, and of course, this is especially true for those who are running away from the God of the Universe. But even after we have "turned around" and our lives are committed to Christ, it can be a struggle to move beyond simply looking like we are doing the right things and actually doing them, and having the right heart attitude.

One of the things that I personally have struggled with over the years is the fact that I stayed in an abusive marriage for many, many years because I believed that God wanted me to do everything possible to make it work . . . . and of course, I wanted to protect my children. Eventually, when I realized that the abuse was never going to stop, and that staying there was actually harming my children, it seemed to me that my inaction had harmed my children more than if I had made a decision to "turn around" sooner. But the past is in the past, and it is what it is. So making the decision to "turn around" and go a different direction in life is rarely easy, but it is sometimes necessary.

Unfortunately, it is just too easy to do all the right things on the outside, or when we are in public, but we also need to "turn around" in our hearts. It is not enough to go through the motions, pretending to be something or someone that we are not, all while hiding a disobedient spirit in the darkness of our sinful souls. God will forgive every sin, but the Bible makes it clear that we need to "turn around," not just for our salvation and the gift of eternal life. That is, of course, the place to start. But we also need to realize that, even if we are believers in the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, He must also be Lord of our life. And then, not only will we eventually get where we want to be, but God will bring blessings and peace, because after all, He alone can give us beauty for the ashes of our brokenness:

"Therefore this is what the Lord says: If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. . . . I am with you to rescue and save you, declares the Lord. I will save you from the hands of the wicked., and redeem you from the grasp of the cruel." Jeremiah 15:19-21

If you would like to participate in this week's "In Other Words" blog meme, please post your link here so we can visit you and then you can also visit the other participants. Have a great Tuesday, and I hope you are headed the direction God has for you today!